Boeing hits it out of the park for veterans and their families

Flo Groberg has seen and experienced more than most people can imagine. After enlisting in the U.S. Army, Groberg served in combat operations in Afghanistan in 2012.

For his heroism while deployed there he earned the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration. It is awarded to those who distinguish themselves by acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.

Today, Groberg serves as Boeing’s director of veterans outreach, responsible for developing and implementing a company-wide giving and engagement strategy for Boeing’s support of military veterans and their families.

Over the weekend of April 15, Groberg threw the ceremonial first pitch at the annual Seattle Mariners Salute to Armed Forces baseball game, sponsored each year by Boeing.

Despite Groberg’s demonstrated ability to remain calm under pressure, he said throwing the pitch in front of 35,000 cheering Major League Baseball fans is a unique test of fortitude.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” Groberg confesses. “But it’s worth the nerves to be able to represent all of my colleagues at Boeing as well as all my brothers and sisters in the military. I’m particularly proud that there are more than 20,000 U.S. veterans, like me, who work for Boeing today.”

More than 10,000 employees with a military background work for Boeing in Washington state. Before his moment on the mound, Groberg met with members of the Puget Sound branch of the Boeing Employees Veterans Association (BEVA) which boasts more than 1,000 members. He shared how Boeing is redoubling its focus around veterans and transitioning members of the military. The company is investing more heavily in programs that provide high-quality training and skill development programs for veterans and their families, as well as programs that assist veterans with recovery and rehabilitation, he said.